Midland Roundtable Athlete of the Year finalist: Charlie Klepps

BILLINGS – Suffice it to say 2018 has been more than memorable for Billings Senior’s Charlie Klepps.

He was recently honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as Montana’s most outstanding wrestler.

Just a few days prior, Klepps accepted a wrestling scholarship to Iowa State.

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Then there was the moment in February when Klepps became this year’s only athlete to win his fourth consecutive individual State AA wrestling title, earning it at 132 pounds.

But Klepps admits he wasn’t always so dominant on the mats.

“I remember my first match,” Klepps said. “I actually wrestled because Gabe (Sulser) always wrestled and we were best friends in kindergarten. First grade, I wrestled … I was 6 years old, got pinned in five seconds and was crying and crying, wanted to quit. My dad got me some nachos and threw me back out there for the next match.”

And the rest is history.

Klepps also ventured into soccer, and he leaves Senior as a two-time all-state forward.

Midland Roundtable unveils its male and female athlete of the year winners Wednesday night at a banquet inside the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. Former Montana Lady Griz head basketball coach Robin Selvig is the featured speaker.